Green Bay Packers

Packers' Aaron Rodgers knocked out of game with shoulder injury

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injured during the first quarter of the Packers’ game Monday against the Bears at Lambeau Field. Rodgers left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return to play. The Bears won, 27-20.

Tuesday afternoon update: On his weekly radio program with ESPN Milwaukee, Aaron Rodgers said he suffered a fractured collarbone. But, contrary to reports, he said multiple times there is no timetable for his return. Rodgers called it a "significant injury." Read more

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Green Bay — The Green Bay Packers may have refused to give any information on what quarterback Aaron Rodgers did to his left shoulder against the Chicago Bears Monday night, but it didn't take a mind reader to see the fear and dismay in their eyes.

It was only the second time since he became a starter in 2008 that Rodgers was unable to finish a game because of injury, and the impact of seeing him wincing as he pulled himself off the Lambeau Field turf less than 3 minutes into the game was dramatic.

Rodgers has escaped from the pocket hundreds of times without incident, but when he did it on third and 8 at the Bears 9-yard line, he was unable to outrun linebacker Shea McClellin, who wrapped his arms around the Packers quarterback and drove his left shoulder into the ground.

"It's one of those things," fullback John Kuhn said after the Packers fell, 27-20, to their NFC North rival. "Anyone who knows him, knows he's one of the toughest guys to play that position. I'm really used to him hopping up and coming right back.

"I'm not used to seeing him nicked up, struggling the way he was. We're feeling for him right now."

At the stadium, injured players are able to undergo X-rays, but sometimes those pictures don't tell the whole story and a full MRI scan is scheduled for the next day. However, if Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone, as many people speculated, it would be logical to think it would show up on an X-ray.

Rodgers did not have his arm in a sling when he returned to the sideline as is often the case, such as when Charles Woodson suffered the injury in Super Bowl XLV. Woodson had to be helped into the locker room whereas Rodgers was able to run off the field and into the tunnel without assistance.

However, his ability to run pain free would not eliminate some kind of fracture. In most cases, a fracture would take four to six weeks to heal.

If Rodgers has a separated shoulder, the injury is to the shoulder joint and the ligaments that hold it together. An MRI would probably give the Packers a much better idea of the severity of the damage that occurred.

A timeline for his return could vary depending on the condition of the ligaments. In a worst-case scenario, a separation can require surgery, which would end his season.

The best factor the Packers have going for them is that the injury occurred to his non-throwing shoulder. They will keep their fingers crossed that it is more of a pain management issue and not something where they are waiting for a bone to heal.

When asked specifically about the injury, coach Mike McCarthy was evasive.

"He has a shoulder injury; we don't have a diagnosis," McCarthy said.

Asked if he could say it was a broken collarbone, he said, "I don't have an exact diagnosis."

Asked if Rodgers had undergone tests at Lambeau Field, McCarthy said he had. Pressed as to what the results of the test were, he said, "I don't have anything."

Teammates said they were unaware of what injury Rodgers had suffered other than that it occurred to his left shoulder. Some defensive players were on the bench resting when it happened and were not aware he was even hurt until on the next series backup quarterback Seneca Wallace was in the game.

Cornerback Tramon Williams said that when he came into the locker room at halftime, he saw Rodgers and said he seemed to be in good spirits.

"He was moving around OK," Williams said. "I knew he wasn't coming out for the second half. That was the last thing I saw."

Rodgers did not come back on the field until the third quarter and when he walked from the locker room tunnel to the Packers sideline on the west side of the stadium, fans cheered for him.

When he got to the sideline, McCarthy came over and shook Rodgers' right hand. The quarterback kept his left hand in his pocket as players came over to greet him. He gave Wallace a quick hug before taking a spot alongside the team physician on the sideline.

Few players denied it was hard to see Rodgers get up off the turf and not be able to return to the game. The last time Rodgers was knocked out of a game by an injury was a 7-3 loss to the Detroit Lions on Dec. 12, 2010, at Ford Field.

In that game, Rodgers was also scrambling and as he lunged forward for a couple extra yards he was hit and the back of his head slammed against the turf. He tried to get up but was wobbly and was deemed to have suffered a concussion.

He missed the following week against New England, but returned to lead the Packers to six straight victories, including three playoff games and Super Bowl XLV.

Rodgers, who had started 41 of the last 42 regular-season games — his only missed start a season-finale against Detroit in 2011 when he was rested for the playoffs — completed just 1 of 2 passes for 27 yards against the Bears.

If Rodgers' injury keeps him out for a while, the Packers will have to consider signing another quarterback. Former Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien is on the practice squad and could easily be elevated to the 53-man roster, however, the Packers would have to cut somebody or put somebody on injured reserve to make room.